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For Better Readers, 3rd Grade+
This list was created by children's librarian Beki Welsch who has been working with Phoenix children for almost 12 years. She started in children's at Burton Barr Central Library, then went to Saguaro, Yucca and now Juniper Libraries. Before Phoenix Public Library, she worked at a high school library for 7 years. 
 
Beki knows that some kids read much better than others in their grade, but they still want books geared to kids.  This list will steer you to some great books for better readers grades 3 to 6.  Her favorite book on the list is Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan because it gives children permission to use their imaginations to create stories. It makes writing stories seem so easy and natural and has wonderful descriptions to inspire you.



 Attack of the fluffy bunnies by Beaty, Andrea.   Attack of the fluffy bunnies
Beaty, Andrea.
At Camp Whatsitooya, twins Joules and Kevin and new friend Nelson face off against large, rabbit-lik ...
 
 The very little princess by Bauer, Marion Dane   The very little princess
Bauer, Marion Dane
When she goes to her grandmother's house for the first time, Zoey finds a tiny china doll that comes ...
 
 Zombiekins by Bolger, Kevin.   Zombiekins
Bolger, Kevin.
Stanley Nudelman buys a weird stuffed animal at the yard sale of a woman rumored to be a witch, and ...
 
 The Fabled fifth graders of Aesop Elementary Schoo ... by Fleming, Candace.   The Fabled fifth graders of Aesop Elementary School
Fleming, Candace.
Throughout their fifth-grade year, a group of rambunctious students learns fable-like lessons from e ...
 
 Brains for lunch : a zombie novel in haiku?! by Holt, K. A.   Brains for lunch : a zombie novel in haiku?!
Holt, K. A.
At a middle school where zombies, blood-sucking chupacabras, and humans never mingle, "lifer" Siobha ...
 
 The popularity papers : the rocky road trip of Lyd ... by Ignatow, Amy.   The popularity papers : the rocky road trip of Lydia Goldblatt & Julie Grah ...
Ignatow, Amy.
It's summertime, and Julie and Lydia are going on a road trip! After all the ups and downs of their ...
 
 Ratfink by Jones, Marcia Thornton.   Ratfink
Jones, Marcia Thornton.
Creative, impulsive Logan vows to turn over a new leaf in fifth grade so his parents will let him ha ...
 
 The basilisk's lair by La Fevers, R. L.   The basilisk's lair
La Fevers, R. L.
The continuing adventures of beastologist-in-training, Nathaniel Fludd, as he accompanies his intrep ...
 
 Shadow wolf by Lasky, Kathryn.   Shadow wolf
Lasky, Kathryn.
After earning the right to return to the wolf pack that abandoned him, the exiled Faolan joins the c ...
 
 Super Chicken Nugget Boy and the Furious Fry by Lewis, Josh.   Super Chicken Nugget Boy and the Furious Fry
Lewis, Josh.
When Fern Goldberg arrives at Bert Lahr Elementary School, he's just an average kid. Then he falls ...
 
 Word after word after word by MacLachlan, Patricia.   Word after word after word
MacLachlan, Patricia.
A visiting author teaches five friends about the power of words and writing.
 
 Layla, Queen of hearts by Millard, Glenda.   Layla, Queen of hearts
Millard, Glenda.
Even though she loves the family of her best friend, Griffin Silk, especially grandmother Nell, Layl ...
 
 Emily's fortune by Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.   Emily's fortune
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.
While traveling to her aunt's home in Redbud by train and stagecoach, quiet young Emily and her turt ...
 
 Masters of disaster by Paulsen, Gary.   Masters of disaster
Paulsen, Gary.
Twelve-year-old Henry's grand adventures spell disaster for best chums Riley and Reed, who always se ...
 
 The Kneebone boy by Potter, Ellen, 1963-   The Kneebone boy
Potter, Ellen, 1963-
Otto, Lucia, and Max Hardscrabble, whose mother has been missing for many years, have unexpected and ...
 
 The night fairy by Schlitz, Laura Amy.   The night fairy
Schlitz, Laura Amy.
When Flory the night fairy's wings are accidentally broken and she cannot fly, she has to learn to d ...
 
 How to grow up and rule the world by Seegert, Scott.   How to grow up and rule the world
Seegert, Scott.
A top supervillain offers rules and advice to readers on how to develop an evil plan to rule the wor ...
 
 The Dancing Pancake by Spinelli, Eileen.   The Dancing Pancake
Spinelli, Eileen.
Eleven-year-old Belinda "Bindi" Winkler and her family find their way through tough times with the l ...
 
 The adventures of Nanny Piggins by Spratt, R. A.   The adventures of Nanny Piggins
Spratt, R. A.
When Mr. Green, a stingy widower with three children he cannot be bothered with, decides to find a n ...
 
 The sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Tarshis, Lauren.   The sinking of the Titanic, 1912
Tarshis, Lauren.
Excited to board the Titanic with his aunt and little sister, ten-year-old George begins to explore ...
 
 My life as a book by Tashjian, Janet.   My life as a book
Tashjian, Janet.
Dubbed a "reluctant reader" by his teacher, twelve-year-old Derek spends summer vacation learning im ...
 
 Justin Case : school, drool, and other daily disas ... by Vail, Rachel.   Justin Case : school, drool, and other daily disasters
Vail, Rachel.
"It's the start of the school year, and nothing feels right to Justin. He didn't get the teacher he ...
 
 Dragonbreath : attack of the ninja frogs by Vernon, Ursula.   Dragonbreath : attack of the ninja frogs
Vernon, Ursula.
When Suki the salamander--the new foreign exchange student--is being stalked by ninja frogs, Danny, ...
 
 Me and Rolly Maloo by Wong, Janet S.   Me and Rolly Maloo
Wong, Janet S.
An unpopular girl cheats on a math test when the most popular girl in school asks her to give her an ...
 
 Stink-o-pedia : super stink-y stuff from A to Zzzz ... by McDonald, Megan.   Stink-o-pedia : super stink-y stuff from A to Zzzzz
McDonald, Megan.
Where can you view the world's oldest ham? Who holds the record for the world's loudest burp? The an ...
 
 Don't touch that toad & other strange things adult ... by Rondina, Catherine.   Don't touch that toad & other strange things adults tell you
Rondina, Catherine.
Examines the truth as well as the false premises behind a variety of things children are told by the ...
 
 101 freaky animals by Berger, Melvin.   101 freaky animals
Berger, Melvin.
 
 Great migrations : whales, wildebeests, butterflie ... by Carney, Elizabeth, 1981-   Great migrations : whales, wildebeests, butterflies, elephants, and other a ...
Carney, Elizabeth, 1981-
 
 Another jar of tiny stars : poems by more NCTE awa ... by   Another jar of tiny stars : poems by more NCTE award-winning poets
 
 Emily stew : with some side dishes by Rockwell, Thomas, 1933-   Emily stew : with some side dishes
Rockwell, Thomas, 1933-
Mixes childhood emotions with a generous portion of imagination to make a quirky, sweet collection o ...
 
 Zombies! : evacuate the school! by Holbrook, Sara.   Zombies! : evacuate the school!
Holbrook, Sara.
Collection of 41 poems about familiar school experiences. Includes poetry facts, definitions, and ch ...
 
 Tales of famous heroes by Roop, Peter.   Tales of famous heroes
Roop, Peter.
 
 Doodlebug : a novel in doodles by Young, Karen Romano.   Doodlebug : a novel in doodles
Young, Karen Romano.
Moving is tough. But the hardest thing of all about the move that Doreen "Dodo" Bussey's family is m ...
 
 The Adventures of Ook and Gluk : Kung-fu cavemen f ... by Beard, George, 1966-   The Adventures of Ook and Gluk : Kung-fu cavemen from the future
Beard, George, 1966-
Friends Ook and Gluk are always getting into trouble with their village chief until they pass throug ...
 
 Ninja slice by Craddock, Erik.   Ninja slice
Craddock, Erik.
Henri, Stone Rabbit, and Andy come to the rescue when an evil pizza parlor staffed by ninja warriors ...
 
 Hereville : how Mirka got her sword by Deutsch, Barry.   Hereville : how Mirka got her sword
Deutsch, Barry.
Eleven-year-old Mirka Herschberg dreams of fighting dragons and spends her days honing her skills, e ...
 
 The meeting by Luciani, Brigitte.   The meeting
Luciani, Brigitte.
Having lost their home, a fox and her daughter move in with a badger and his three children, but whe ...
 
 Flight : explorer. by   Flight : explorer.
An anthology of short stories, by a variety of the international artists. Includes the full-color wo ...
 
 Meanwhile by Shiga, Jason.   Meanwhile
Shiga, Jason.
In this choose-your-own adventure graphic novel, a boy stumbles on the laboratory of a mad scientist ...
 
 Binky to the rescue by Spires, Ashley, 1978-   Binky to the rescue
Spires, Ashley, 1978-
 
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